The Marble Temple, Bangkok, Thailand

The Marble Temple, Bangkok, Thailand The Marble Temple or Wat Benchamabophit, This is an old temple dating to the Ayutthaya period, and was previously known as Wat Laem or Wat Saithong. In 1827 A.D., King Rama II’s son Prince Phiphit Phokha Phuben sat his troop to defense the Laos troop of Prince Anuwong at this site. After the war, he restored the temple and built five chedis in front of the temple in the reign of King Rama IV. The name was changed to Benchanabophit meaning the temple of five princes. In 1899A.D. King Rama V built Dusit Palace which covering up to the temple area. The King then ordered to rebuild the temple and changed its name to Benchamabophit Dusit Wanaram, meaning the temple of the fifth king and located nearby Dusit Palace. Ubosot is a structure of the four-gabled style, with four-tiered roof. It was built of Carrara marble imported from Italy. Inside is the Buddha image in the attitude of Subduing Mara by imitating Phra Phutthachinnarat at Wat Phra Si Rattana Maha That, Phitsanulok province. Marker stones are in the form of two posts with lotus bud tops placed at the two front corners of the boundary walls and two stone slabs inscribed with the Wheels of Dhamma placed in the enclosed terrace at the back of the bot. The Gallery extends from both sides of the bot to form a square enclosure that takes in the rear part of the bot. The Buddha images in the gallery are fifty two Buddha images of more or less the same size but belonging to various periods and styles. These were collected here so that the temple is a center of beautiful Buddha images of all styles. The Bo tree. Instead of stupas, Wat Benchamabophit has a bo tree as token of the Buddha. This bo tree is an offshoot of the one at Buddha Gaya in India. Vihan Somdej is a distinctively designed building of four gables with the part of the southern and the northern gables being of two story while the part of the eastern and western gables having only a single store. The distinct features of this Vihara is focused on its door and window panels of beautiful gilded and lacquered decoration and the stucco adornment of its niches and gables with glass inlaid surrounding the royal monogram “S.P.” of Queen Saowabha Phongsri, the consort of King Chulalongkorn who built this building in 1902 A.D. in accordance with the will of her to serve as the Buddhist library known at that time as Hor Buddhasasana Sangraha. Two important Buddha images i.e. Phra Fang and the replica of Phra Buddha Narish, enshrined in the Vihara. Phra Thinang Song Tham was built by Queen Sri Savarindra for H.R.H. Crown Prince Maha Vajirunhis, who died before succeeding to the throne. In 1902 A.D., the building was completed and served as the royal residence of King Chulalongkorn whenever he wished to occasionally listen to sermons and observe religious precepts. The two-storey, brick and mortar building has a two-tiered roof, paved with yellow glazed tiles; all the four-sided gables are carved. Gold gilded and decorated with multi-colored glass mosaics. The Chofah finials are lacquered and applied with gold leaf. The floor and stairs of the lower floor are laid with marble while the upper floor is lined with wood. Si Somdej Pavilion was built by King Rama V and his full brothers and sister, the pavilion contains a long drum, 5.32 meters in length. It was made from whole block of rosewood. Bovornwong Belfry. The bell tower is a typical style of Thai architecture, roofed with glazed tiles and walls with marble slabs, It was set up in memory of Krom Phra Rajavang Bovorn Sathan Mongkol of the front palace which was the rank second to the King in importance. The bell itself was taken from Wat Bovorn Sathan Suddhavas in the present of the front palace. Thus the royal given name to this tower is Bovornwong Bell tower.